The South western news., 1887-08-31
BEAUTIES IN THE WATER.
Is Bathing Unbecoming? Famili>
arities That Would Not Be
Tolerated on Land.

ger 'the thing to do. Yet So
healthtul and invigorating a GUS
tom will be long in wholly dying
out.
Here at Shelter Island, where
two hundred cottages aud two
large hotels people this little parar
disc with at least eight ! undred
souls during the season, the beach
is we'll crowded with merry baths
ers every forenoon.
Sitting in the pavilion and
watching them sport in the briny
wave, could not help wondering
why Mrs. Grundv: who is so pc
culiarly critical in some things,
should have so long ignored the
vulgarities of the ocean bath.
Here men and women, young girls
and youths halt nude, and with
the covered portions of their bodies
plainly outlined by their clinging
wet robes. mix and minele and in
dulge in fan,iliarities which would
not he tolerated on land.
A pretty young lady swan from
the beach to the diving pavilion
yesterday. Then she clambered up
on the pavilion with ten or twelve
Others Of both sexes. Here in fu |
sight of all the spectators on the
shore and al her companions, she
lifted her short skirts a trihe and
adjusted the elastic Of her long
stocking. which had become loos-
entd with the effort Of swimming.
She did this with the utmost nom
cEalance: yet just emagine the SEN
sation it would cause Il she should
perform the same harmless little
toilet act on the varanda, in press
ence of the same audience! She
would be cut dead by every wO>
man, and quite likely requested to
leave the hotel. Yet | doubt if
anyone besides myself noticed or
commented on the little perfor-
mance-it is such an everyday oc>
curence. I do not wish to seem
hypercritical, and I belive have
never hecn called over-particular
or prudish, hut can't help won-
dering why the same act is deem
ed proper in one place and vulgar
in another.
Only last week I heard a young
miss declaring she would not dance
with any man unless he was rela-
tive or a very dear friend 4
don't like and wont tolerate any
man in such close proximity to me,
unless he is a relative she said.
Yesterday I saw her swim to the
shore with male escort who is not
a relative. and it seemed to me the
situation held good deal more OF
unpleasant familiarity than any
waltz ever contained. She sat
down in the sand, and her escort
leaned on his elbow, close beside
her. He wore n single very thin
garment, which exposed his Draw
nv arms and bony neck and un
lovely ankles and feet. The single
garment hung close to his body
and displayed his entire anatomy
with unblushing distinctness. Hel
own pretty arms we're bare to the
shoulders, and as she sat curled NJ
in the sand, one could gain very
pleasing outline of her graceful
limbs and rounded shape. Blu
again / fell to making compari
sons.
Suppose I said, mentally, tina
young lady should meet that youn;
gentleman in the halls of the hote
arrayed precisely as he is now
she would run screaming in he
room, indignant and alarmed |
be should approach her in that at
tire on the lawn and attempt to 81
down beside her, she would call
policeman to arrest lin, Queer
Isn't it?>
Some of the young ladies VIII
have heard that bathing is not ;
fashionable as it used to be-ul
willing to be independent, "
,">re unwilling to abandon the de
@yht Of a daily swim-choose a
afternoon hour when other peop
are mapping, and paddle about
pretty costumes with no male spe
tators, or at least only an aecide
tai one.
These were the young ladi
who declared they would not
int1oduced to or dance with al
strangers OF the bop given in ho